Fulcrum for loose-leaf binders



p 25g i195@ J. B. STUEHCKE FULCRUM FOR LOOSE-LEAF BINDERS Filed Jan. 18.1945 Patented Apr.. 25, 19510 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for looseleaf binders, and moreparticularly for devices adapted to be supported at the rings of thebinder to lift the leaves or sheets around the lower portion of therings, when the covers of the binder are swung to closed position.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive,and rapidly detachable device, to improve the operation of sheetliftingdevices.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary verticalsectional View of a ring-type binder to which the device of the presentinvention has been applied; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of afulcrurn device which is the subject matter of the present invention.

Kengott Patent No. 2,276,987, dated March 17, 1942, shows sheet liftingdevices whose operation is improved by the fulcrum device of the presentinvention.

In the embodiment illustrated, the conventional loose-leaf ring binderis shown having a back 5 to which are hinged cover members 6 and 'I.Conventional split rings 8 are generally made up of semi-circular parts,which are secured to a member 9 which permits them to be opened toattach leaves or sheets. While the rings are shown as circular, theinvention is adapted to other shapes. The member 9 has a shield plate Hlwhich covers the ring operating mechanism.

A pair of sheet-lifting attachments are installed on the rings inopposed relation, as shown in Fig. l, and comprise a longitudinal stripII of relatively stiff material, having inwardly extending metalsupports i2, which may be se-l cured rigidly in position by means ofrivets I3.

The supports I2 are slotted longitudinally and have their inner endportions curled backwardly, to form a rocker-like portion I4, andprovide a closed loop.

A detachable bridge member I5 is provided for each pair of opposedrockers I4 and preferably is made of spring metal, having its endsbifurcated by slots IS adapted to straddle the rings 8. The ends of thebridge member are provided with clasps I'I which may be snapped aroundthe shield member l Il. As shown in Fig. 2, the bridge member may beprovided with an integrally formed upwardly extending guide flange I8,which has a pair of lingers I 9 which are directed backwardly over thebearing portion of the bridge member. These lingers are adapted toimpale the open loops of the rockers I4 and serve as loose positioningpivots.

The device is particularly useful in large ringtype loose-leaf binders.To install a fulcrum on each ring, it is merely necessary to positionthe slots I6 around the base of the rings 8 and snap the clasps intoposition by pressing downwardly on the center of the fulcrum. The sheetlifting devices may then be placed on the open rings, with their loopportions surrounding the fingers I9. After the leaves or sheets havebeen placed on the rings, the rings may be closed, and the device isready for use. It will be seen that when the covers E and 'l of thebinder are swung together, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1,the sheet lifters will roll against the fulcrum I5 and against eachother and will slide the sheets around the rings B, without danger ofbinding or tearing at the holes.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled inthe art.

I claim:

1. A fulcrum for sheet-lifting devices in a looseleaf ring binder havinga shield plate comprising: a detachable arched bridge member of springmetal provided at its ends with securing clasps adapted to snap over theedge portions of a shield plate and hold the central portion of saidbridge member spaced from said shield plate, said central portion of thebridge member providing an upwardly presented unobstructed convex:bearing surface upon which sheet-lifting devices may roll;

and a guide iiange extending upwardly f'rom onel edge of said bridgemember to engage said sheetlifting devices.

2. A fulcrum as specified in claim 1, in which the bridge member is madeof spring metal and has its clasps bifurcated to snap around lthe baseportion of the ring of the binder.

3. A fulcrum for sheet-lifting devices in a looseleaf ring binder havinga shield plate comprising: a detachable arched bridge member provided atits ends with securing clasps to engage the edge REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Morden Dec. 31, 1912 WhitlockApr. 10, 1923 Dawson July 1, 1930 Trussell Mar. 24, 1936 Lotter Sept.29, 1936 Trussell Nov. 14, 1939 Vernon Dec. 26, 1939

